Role model
Role model
Being a self-made woman did not make things easy ultimately. As Sandhya sat in the back seat of the fast moving car, her thoughts raced too-mostly backwards. The pig-tailed girl walking up the dais to receive prizes in abundance, the always won debates, speeches…it was clear early in her life that she was no average ‘also ran’. Excellence was her birth right. And she had not disappointed anyone. Even as she rose in the unconventional arena of politics, clear in her views, fluent in words, prolific in work and as she gained recognition and stature, Sandhya was self-aware enough to understand that independence was an intoxication. Politics had taught her to see through the many layers of life….friendship in Opposition, subtle opposition in friends, flattering genuine admiration, honest dislike.
City lights started twinkling when she tried to pinpoint to herself that weak moment when her defences had crumbled. How could she fall in love? How could she consent to marriage? As the car turned into the road leading to her parents’ house, Sandhya felt a pang of nostalgia. Instinctively her eyes darted across the road. She who had rubbed shoulders with eminent personalities, seen relationships make and break on a big scale, she who had never needed the guidance of anyone to come this far, she was a fan of just this one person. Maybe the fascination of her ‘noble’ profession, maybe just the fact that Sister had remained single-and happy-whatever it was, Sandhya had seen a role model in the middle aged nurse living opposite their house. Why, it seemed like yesterday that she too wanted to live like Sister, in a house of her own, with no one to ‘report’ to. Maybe being a public figure had something to do with it. She saw Sister’s as a peaceful life with no strings attached. And every time she came home after yet another long trip or another rally, the sight of Sister peeping out of her window or coming to ask her about her well-being was a comfort, never mind her inquisitive streak. But here was Sandhya, much married, on a fast forward to motherhood, with nothing to look forward to but house arrest for the next 6 months-an and ugly growing belly. For the first time in her life, Sandhya sensed defeat…
But why was Sister’s house engulfed in darkness? It had been a year since Sandhya’s last visit home and she remembered the petite figure welcoming her as soon as she got down from the car with her husband. With a slight frown of worry, Sandhya returned her mother’s affectionate hug of welcome. While her eyes returned to Sister’s lifeless house, her mother said ‘guess what! Sister got married last month.’
As Sandhya reeled, jaws wide open, her mother continued cheerfully, ‘ and guess who the groom is’…with another baffled look at Sister’s house, Sandhya decided that a strong cup of coffee was in order to offset the devastating impact of the news.
As the warm flavour of home wafted from the coffee, sandhya found courage to ask her mother who the unseemly, why impossible man was who had spirited away Sister from her bastion. Some Shaadi.com types no doubt who saw convenience in Sister’s hard-earned savings in exchange for so called security in old age…how distasteful! unmindful of her daughter’s bitter musings, the mother continued ‘It seems Sister had been in love once, but had been too independent minded to consent to marriage. When she saw you get married, she saw a role model in you. Romance bloomed once more with her old friend and they tied the knot last month. The groom is the elderly Sanskrit scholar at the corner of the road with whom you have had so many philosophical discussions. I wanted to keep this news as a special surprise for you. The couple will come to visit you tomorrow’.
…..
Sandhya almost choked on her coffee. Had her fortress crumbled? Had her faith in humanity evaporated? Had she been twice betrayed?
The last sip suggested something different. For the first time Sandhya felt an affectionate tug from the new life within her even as she saw a new role model-maybe two?
Being a self-made woman did not make things easy ultimately. As Sandhya sat in the back seat of the fast moving car, her thoughts raced too-mostly backwards. The pig-tailed girl walking up the dais to receive prizes in abundance, the always won debates, speeches…it was clear early in her life that she was no average ‘also ran’. Excellence was her birth right. And she had not disappointed anyone. Even as she rose in the unconventional arena of politics, clear in her views, fluent in words, prolific in work and as she gained recognition and stature, Sandhya was self-aware enough to understand that independence was an intoxication. Politics had taught her to see through the many layers of life….friendship in Opposition, subtle opposition in friends, flattering genuine admiration, honest dislike.
City lights started twinkling when she tried to pinpoint to herself that weak moment when her defences had crumbled. How could she fall in love? How could she consent to marriage? As the car turned into the road leading to her parents’ house, Sandhya felt a pang of nostalgia. Instinctively her eyes darted across the road. She who had rubbed shoulders with eminent personalities, seen relationships make and break on a big scale, she who had never needed the guidance of anyone to come this far, she was a fan of just this one person. Maybe the fascination of her ‘noble’ profession, maybe just the fact that Sister had remained single-and happy-whatever it was, Sandhya had seen a role model in the middle aged nurse living opposite their house. Why, it seemed like yesterday that she too wanted to live like Sister, in a house of her own, with no one to ‘report’ to. Maybe being a public figure had something to do with it. She saw Sister’s as a peaceful life with no strings attached. And every time she came home after yet another long trip or another rally, the sight of Sister peeping out of her window or coming to ask her about her well-being was a comfort, never mind her inquisitive streak. But here was Sandhya, much married, on a fast forward to motherhood, with nothing to look forward to but house arrest for the next 6 months-an and ugly growing belly. For the first time in her life, Sandhya sensed defeat…
But why was Sister’s house engulfed in darkness? It had been a year since Sandhya’s last visit home and she remembered the petite figure welcoming her as soon as she got down from the car with her husband. With a slight frown of worry, Sandhya returned her mother’s affectionate hug of welcome. While her eyes returned to Sister’s lifeless house, her mother said ‘guess what! Sister got married last month.’
As Sandhya reeled, jaws wide open, her mother continued cheerfully, ‘ and guess who the groom is’…with another baffled look at Sister’s house, Sandhya decided that a strong cup of coffee was in order to offset the devastating impact of the news.
As the warm flavour of home wafted from the coffee, sandhya found courage to ask her mother who the unseemly, why impossible man was who had spirited away Sister from her bastion. Some Shaadi.com types no doubt who saw convenience in Sister’s hard-earned savings in exchange for so called security in old age…how distasteful! unmindful of her daughter’s bitter musings, the mother continued ‘It seems Sister had been in love once, but had been too independent minded to consent to marriage. When she saw you get married, she saw a role model in you. Romance bloomed once more with her old friend and they tied the knot last month. The groom is the elderly Sanskrit scholar at the corner of the road with whom you have had so many philosophical discussions. I wanted to keep this news as a special surprise for you. The couple will come to visit you tomorrow’.
…..
Sandhya almost choked on her coffee. Had her fortress crumbled? Had her faith in humanity evaporated? Had she been twice betrayed?
The last sip suggested something different. For the first time Sandhya felt an affectionate tug from the new life within her even as she saw a new role model-maybe two?
posted by meera @ 8:42 PM
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